The Lone Wolf's Lycan Princess

Coffee

River POV

I pushed Erin up against the bedroom wall. Our bodies pressed together, and I could feel her heart pounding against mine. The sound of her rapid heartbeat filled the room, a clear indication of her fear. I struggled to regain control over my emotions, knowing I needed to stop before I made a mistake with her.

Brushing her hair aside, I inhaled deeply, taking in her intoxicating scent. Leaning in, I planted a kiss on the exact spot I had planned to mark her. As the kiss lingered, I felt my canines elongating, my body partially shifting. But suddenly, she moved, her hand striking against me, snapping me back to reality.

In a moment of frustration, I released her, slamming my hand against the wall. The sound reverberated throughout the room. She hurriedly ran towards the bathroom, the door swinging shut behind her, followed by the distinct click of the lock.

"f**k," I growled, my anger boiling over. I struggled to regain control of myself, not only frustrated with my own actions but also with Max, who had also moved forward without permission. We had come dangerously close to marking her, without her consent.

"Erin, I'm sorry," I pleaded through the locked door. "I messed up. There's no excuse. I let my emotions get the best of me, I have trouble controlling myself. I don't even know what to say. I messed up big time, didn't I? You were starting to trust me, and I ruined it."

I felt lost in that moment, unsure of what to do. I was never good at this, never good at being around others, especially someone who constantly panicked. I accepted her for who she was, but I struggled. I didn't want to scare her even more. I wanted to ease her torment, to understand why she had been destroyed like this. But my anger at her situation had caused me to lose control.

Taking several deep breaths, I tried to calm myself, attempting to regain composure in the midst of the chaos.

"Erin, please, can you open the door? I won't do anything, I won't even touch you unless you come to me. Just please, I need to know if you're okay." I anxiously pleaded. My worry grew as I had seen her hurt herself before when panicked.

Eventually, I heard the lock click, followed by the creak of the door opening. She emerged, her face flushed, her eyes puffy from crying. Guilt washed over me for making her cry.

She walked over to the bed, picked up her phone, and began typing. Then, she approached me, extending her phone towards me. The message on the screen asked, "Were you trying to mark me?"

I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to answer truthfully. "Yes," I confessed, "my wolf took control. We were both upset and lost control."

"Why were you so upset?" She inquired.

"I'm scared that someone else wants you. I fear that if I don't mark you, someone else will and they will take you away from me." I admitted.

Her hand briefly grazed her neck before she turned her gaze back to me.

"I don't want to be with someone else." She typed. Her phone buzzed, distracting her momentarily. She glanced at the screen but quickly powered it down.

Concerned, I asked, "Was it the person threatening you again?"

She nodded, her fear palpable. "Whatever they want from you, they won't get it. I'm going to shield you.” I promised.

She looked at me, her eyes filled with hesitation, and then she took a step closer, her hand trembling as it found its place in mine. "Are you giving me permission to hold you again?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. She nodded, her breath catching in her throat as I pulled her closer into my embrace. I could feel the warmth of her body against mine, and as she buried her head against me, I could sense her inhaling deeply, taking in my scent once more. It was evident that her wolf was growing stronger with each passing day, and I eagerly anticipated the day when I would finally meet her.

Normally, I despised the idea of going to shops or being around humans, and I knew Erin felt the same. However, there was one place in the city that I had visited a few times, and since her appointment was at 3 pm, it was best if we left soon. We could spend some time there, and perhaps I could find a way to free her from these appointments altogether. Besides, there was a person I needed to meet, and I didn't want to leave Erin alone. This was the perfect opportunity for me to accomplish both.

Taking a moment to observe her, I noticed that she had dressed, but I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with her choice of clothing. It seemed as if she hadn't updated her wardrobe since her teenage years, and the tightness of her outfit left little to the imagination. She was undeniably beautiful, and I couldn't bear the thought of other men ogling at her. I wanted her to be seen only through my eyes. With a gentle motion, I scooped her up into my arms, surprising her, and carried her into my room. Placing her gently on the bed, she looked at me, her eyes searching for understanding.

Reaching for one of my sweatshirts, I instructed her, "Lift your arms." Obediently, she raised her arms, and I slipped the garment over her, providing her with enough coverage to put me at ease. "Better," I murmured, a small smile tugging at my lips as she brought the fabric to her nose, inhaling deeply. With reassurance, I told her, "Let's head out, and don't worry. None of this will interfere with my work." I wanted her to know that she had nothing to feel guilty about.

I gave her a moment to grab what she needed. Then we got in my car, she had her notebook and a small pencil bag with her. Part of me felt guilty for looking over the first few pages. So, when we hit the road, I admitted the truth to her.

"Erin, last night while you slept, I looked over the first few pages of your journal," I confessed, the weight of my words heavy in the silence. "I'm really just trying to get clues to help you. I saw that you were tracking your healing. Werewolves heal fast, so since you didn't know you were one, I'm sure that came as a surprise. But I saw something else, a note about silver. Does silver not hurt you?" I asked, stealing glances at her while I drove.

She turned and looked at me, her eyes meeting mine, and shook her head no. "Strange," I murmured, the sound of the engine humming in the background. "You see, silver is like poison to me and other werewolves. It would really hurt me," I admitted, the words lingering in the air.

She looked at me again, her expression filled with unspoken words. Then, she closed her eyes for a moment. I pulled the car to the side of the road, the gravel crunching beneath the tires. "I'm sorry, Erin," I apologized, the regret evident in my voice. "It's not easy for you not being able to communicate, and I forget that at times."

As she looked at me again, I reached my hand out and brushed a tear from her cheek, the warmth of her skin against my fingertips. She grabbed her phone and typed. "I can't even hear my voice in my head. It's silence most of the time," she typed, her frustration evident.

She typed again, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen. "My sister said silver does not hurt me. It's the last thing she said before she died," she revealed.

"So, you're immune then. You are special," I stated, the realization sinking in. "The more clues I get about you, the easier it will be to learn the truth," I said. She nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

As I took to the road again, she flipped her small notebook open, the sound of pages rustling. It seemed like she was sketching something, her pencil gliding across the paper as we drove.

Time slowly passed by in the serene silence of the car. Eventually, I pulled up to a quaint little coffee shop. I swiftly sent a text to someone I knew in the area, the one who was the stop I needed, urging them to join us at the coffee shop promptly.

Erin gazed out of the car window, her eyes filled with apprehension. Determined to help her overcome her fears, I stepped out of the car and made my way to her door. She emerged, clutching her notebook tightly in one hand. Gently, I took her other hand, guiding her gaze towards me. "You're not alone anymore, so don't be afraid. Just focus on me," I reassured her, hoping to instill a sense of comfort.

Inside the coffee shop, the sound of soft chatter and the whirring of coffee machines filled the cozy space. Confident in navigating such places, as they never seemed overcrowded, I confidently approached the counter. Placing our order, I requested two cups of coffee and a basket of muffins, knowing Erin's fondness for them. After paying, I led her to an unoccupied table.

Erin kept her gaze fixed on the table, her nerves evident. Seizing the opportunity, I moved my chair next to hers, intertwining our hands. Slowly, I managed to coax her to look up at me.

I noticed that every time the door swung open or someone walked by, she flinched, her body tensing up. It made me wonder if there was more to her fear than just the night her parents died. Was there something that had happened before, something that had instilled such deep-seated fear within her?

"No one can hurt you, Erin," I reassured her, my voice soft and comforting. "They will have to go through me. I don't enjoy going out much, but if and when we have to, I want you to feel comfortable. I understand it may take time, but let's start with today."

As our coffee and muffins were placed in front of us, I gently rubbed her hand in mine, trying to provide a sense of security. "Thank you," I said to the barista, my gratitude sincere.

"Look at me," I urged, looking into her eyes, "and try mouthing something here that makes you nervous."

She hesitated for a moment before finally mouthing the word, "strangers."

"Do you worry they may hurt you?" I asked, trying to understand her fears. She moved her hand from side to side, indicating a "sort of" response.

"Why else do you fear them?" I pressed, keeping our conversation between the two of us.

"Judge me," she mouthed, her expression filled with vulnerability.

"Why do you fear they will judge you?" I asked, my voice filled with empathy.

"I'm ugly," she mouthed.

"Far from it, Erin," I reassured her, my voice filled with conviction. "You don't realize how stunning you are. Fate has blessed you with extraordinary beauty. And I'm not just saying that because you're my mate. When people look at you, it's not judgment they're feeling, it's awe. They're stunned by your beauty and most likely wonder who the enchanting woman before them is. And the best part is, she is mine."

Leaning in gently, I kissed her, making sure she was comfortable with my action. When I pulled away, she smiled at me, a flicker of calmness in her eyes. As she took a sip of her coffee, I could sense that she was gradually becoming more at ease. It brought me immense joy, knowing that I could help her uncover the confident woman hidden within her.